Be Still and Know

Be still and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!

-Psalm 46:10

A mother’s life is a busy life.  I know; I am a mother.  This week has been especially busy, so busy that when our furnace broke yesterday, I told my husband that I did not have time for the furnace repairman to come and fix it.  What was I thinking?  I hate cold and a sleety storm was happening outside the window!  How does a mother handle the busyness of her life?  My mind turned to the poem often quoted by Elisabeth Elliot, And Do the Next Thing.  Yes, trust the resultings to Jesus and “do the next thing.” 

Even more important than doing the next thing is focussing on the right thing.  Not on the “right thing” really, but on the “right One.”  In all that our daily lives require, our focus must stay on the One who really matters, the Lord.  Be still and know that I am God.  To place it all at His feet, to be still, to know that He is God.  And then to rest in Him, knowing that He is in control and that He will give me all the time and strength that I need to complete the tasks that matter most.  He is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  He is a help not in trouble only, but also in the times when we feel overwhelmed. 

In Psalm 42, the psalmist writes, “As a deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God.  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.”  Later he laments, “Why are you cast down, O my soul?  And why are you disquieted within me?  Hope in God.”  The peace and quietness of this scene fills my soul.  I desire to drink deeply from the refreshing water that only He can provide.  I want to rest in Him even when the busyness of being a wife and homeschooling mother threatens to disquiet me.  Why am I disquieted?  I only need to hope in Him.  What a blessed thought!

The furnace repairman came in good time.  I was able to get many of the things done that needed doing.  And I marvelled at the One who worked out all the details.  Indeed, why was I disquieted?  I am left wondering when I will learn that all important lesson of focussing my attention on Him and resting in His plans for my life.  When will I learn with Martha, that I am worried and troubled about many things, but only one thing is needed.  

I leave my reader’s with the anonymous poem

And Do the Next Thing

From an old English parsonage, down by the sea

There came in the twilight a message to me;

Its quaint Saxon legend, deeply engraven,

Hath, as it seems to me, teaching from Heaven.

And on through the hours the quiet words ring

Like a low inspiration – “DO THE NEXT THING.”

Many a questioning, many a fear,

Many a doubt, hath its quieting here.

Moment by moment, let down from Heaven,

Time, opportunity, guidance, are given.

Fear not tomorrows, Child of the King,

Trust them with Jesus, “DO THE NEXT THING.”

Do it immediately; do it with prayer;

Do it reliantly, casting all care;

Do it with reverence, tracing His Hand

Who placed it before thee with earnest command.

Stayed on Omnipotence, safe near His wing,

Leave all resultings, “DO THE NEXT THING.”